6 Foods You Should Be Eating This Summer

When it comes to summer dining, there are really two main rules: first, eat outside whenever you can. Second, eat produce that is in season for summer. Honestly, you're missing out if you don't. Most produce has a season where it reaches its peak "ripeness" — meaning, it's best to buy and cook with it during this time, because you may not be able to buy it year-round. Or worse, if you can buy it, your off-season fruits and veggies may not taste fresh (and will be double the price). No bueno.

Fruits that are in season right now include stone fruits (think fruits with a pit, like peaches and plums), berries, citrus fruits, and tomatoes. The best vegetables to buy and eat during the summer months include radishes, beets, cucumbers, zucchini, corn, peppers, arugula, and rhubarb.

Because this produce is best in the summertime, you're going to want to eat them now before they taste "meh" in the fall. You can totally eat all of this produce on its own, but I find that cooking with fresh ingredients makes the meal even better. These farm-to-table inspired dishes will definitely up the ante at your next barbecue.

Here are six types of produce that are in season for summer — and six delicious things to make with them.

1. Watermelon

Watermelon is clutch, especially in these final days of summer. The best time to purchase this fruit is in August, so give summer a delicious sendoff by eating watermelon every chance you get. This watermelon, avocado, and kale salad from Love and Lemons ups your work lunch, big time.

2. Zucchini

This garlic grilled zucchini from Damn Delicious is so, well, damn delicious, that you won't feel like you're eating veggies. This vitamin-packed veggie stays in season well into September, so there's still plenty of time for you to get your fix.

3. Corn

You can get corn all year long, but there's just something magical about eating it off the grill in the summer. Add pistachio, cilantro, and lime? GAME. CHANGER. Get the full recipe from Joy the Baker.

4. Cucumbers

Cukes are way more versatile than just sitting on a veggie tray or dipping into hummus. You have to make this cucumber, tomato, and avocado salad from Natasha's Kitchen for your next potluck.

5. Rhubarb

I would be remiss if I didn't put at least one cocktail on here. Oh, you don't go to the farmer's market looking for cocktail ingredients? Well, you should, because this rhubarb marg from Adventures in Cooking will be like a party for your tastebuds.

6. Peaches

You could get a bagel on Sunday morning, or you could make these caramelized peach and lavender scones from How Sweet It Is. Tough one. August is National Peach Month, so you owe it to yourself to celebrate properly.

Looking for some more fun food ideas? Visit Bustle on YouTube!

Images: Harsha K R/Flickr; Love and Lemons; Damn Delicious; Joy the Baker; Natasha's Kitchen; Adventures in Cooking; How Sweet Eats